Fuji X-E1 Low Light Focusing

broncophil

New Member
Hi guys (who own the camera)

Long time m43 user. Had EPL1 / EP3, with many lenses.. 20 1.7 / 45 1.8 / 9-18 etc.

Liked the system, and had actually ordered an OMD, but as some might have read in another forum, it arrived DOA, and I was a little put off by it. So I have not ordered another one YET.

Then came across the XE1, love the way it renders colors and bokeh.

The main thing I loathed about the m43 system was low light focusing. Even in a dimly lit restaurant (not pitch dark), my m43 cameras would not focus. Thats is why I have been hanging on to my NIKON DSLR.

So how does it perform? I heard the x100 was really bad.

Thanks.
 
The XE1 has poor low light focusing. Your best bet is to manual focus in these situations. The EM5 does a better, but not perfect job. If auto focus and low light is your requirement, DSLRs are your best bet.
 
The EM5 focuses better in low light (slightly lens dependent). And I'm not sure about beating the pants off anything, but the X-Pro (and presumably the X-E1 with the same sensor) have a step or so better IQ at high ISO
 
My XE1 should arrive tomorrow. But if memory serves me correctly, with the original firmware, the XPro1 was slow, but not horrible in low light. The EM5 is definitely better than the XPro1 (with the original firmware).
 
My XE1 should arrive tomorrow. But if memory serves me correctly, with the original firmware, the XPro1 was slow, but not horrible in low light. The EM5 is definitely better than the XPro1 (with the original firmware).

X-E1 'should' come with updated firmware. It was only the X-Pro1 that required the update.
 
IMO, m43 has currently the best (fastest and most accurate) AF in low light, maybe amongst any camera with larger than 1" sensor.
 
IMO, m43 has currently the best (fastest and most accurate) AF in low light, maybe amongst any camera with larger than 1" sensor.

You mean, for mirorrless cameras right? If I remember correctly, I believe cameras like the Canon 7D focus in low light faster and more accurately than any m4/3 cameras.
 
IMO, m43 has currently the best (fastest and most accurate) AF in low light, maybe amongst any camera with larger than 1" sensor.

I meant all cameras. I've tried a LOT of them, though certainly not all.

You could be right that the 7D being faster, but being PDAF, it's probably not as accurate. The combo of speed and accuracy for single shot AF is remarkable in the newer m43 cameras (I meant to include "single shot" as a qualifier in my earlier post but forgot it, because we all know the C-AF limitations of CDAF).
 
You mean the image rendering or iso performance..

Because you just said the omd is a little better focusing wise.

Thanks for the reply.

The sensor produces images with more dynamic resolution and less noise than than the EM5. I'm not saying the EM5 sensor is bad, just he XE1 sensor is better. Real world example, take two low light photos with both cameras. Go into LR4.2. Hit "Auto" and much more detail gets pulled out of the XE1 shadows than the EM5.

The XE1 has a harder time focusing in low light situations, but when focused the XE1 sensor produces great low light images.
 
The 7D was/is one of the better non-pro level Canon's in terms of AF, and doesn't even have an assist light. Haven't touched one in ages though, so my non-elephant memory could be wrong. The OMD is definitely more accurate than the K5 I used to have -- in both low light and good light.

I'll be able to do a head to head comparison later today, if the XE1 arrives as scheduled. XE1 + 35/1.4 vs OMD + PL25.
 
Back
Top